Loom picker attachment.



Phtented Feb.- 20, I900.

- R... L. DURHAM.

LOOM PICKER ATTACHMENT.

(Application med Dec. 6, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

ROBERT L. DURHAM, OF BURLINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA;

LooM F lCKER ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,816, dated Bestiary 20,

Icon.

Application filed December 6, 1899. Serial No. 739,383. (No model.)

To all whom it JTI/G/J concern):

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. DURHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burlington, in the county of Alamance and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Loom Attachment, of which the following is'a specification.

This invention relates to loom attachments, and has particular relation to the stirrup connections between the picker-sticks and pickerlevers; and the object of the same is to provide a simple, efficient, and durable stirrup attachment to replace the perishable devices of this character now commonly employed with materially less expense and an advantageous result in the Weave by avoiding a breakdown, a severance or irregularity in the filling which now frequently ensues from the use of the leather-strap stirrups.

The stirrups now commonly employed are largely composed of leather in strap form, and the constant friction of the parts coacting therewith or strain brought to bear thereon wears and disintegrates the same and causes an inactive condition of the connected parts and a flaw in the weave which is very expensive, particularly if such accidents occur at a time when a longlength of the woven material has been completed. It is proposed to make the improved attachment of suitable strong strap metal which will have the necessary yielding qualification imparted thereto by the intermediate positioning of a hinged joint and the additional advantage of durability and cheapness without in the least detracting from the effective operation of the loom.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and subject to a wide range of modification as far as the change of form, proportions, and minor details are concerned without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of a loom-frame and a portion of the elements of a loom, showing the improved device applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of a part of the device as shown in Fig. 1 and also of the improved attachment. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the improved attachment.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates the frame of a loom of any preferred form and including in its organization picker-sticks 2, having the usual and well-known function and secured to stub or other shafts or fulcrums 3 by means of sockets 4, which also have in connection therewith semicircular cams or disks 5 and depending arms 6, to which the opposite terminals 7 of a spring 8 are secured, the said spring being one means, as will be readily understood, for retracting the pickersticks, and any other desired mechanism for this purpose may be used. The spring 8 is shown to illustrate one practical application of the improved attachment, and precise arrangement of these coacting devices is not necessary to make the improved attachment useful, as it is intended to apply said attachmentto any form of loom to which it may be applicable.

To ears 9 (shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2) the improved stirrup 10 is connected in a removable manner by means of abolt 11, said stirrup comprising a segmental curved member 12, resting upon and movable over the semicircular cam or disk 5 and having at its lower terminal spaced knuckles 13, between which is fitted and movably mounted an upper central knuckle 1% on a lower stirrup member 15, the knuckles being connected to form a hinge by a bolt 16 or other analogous device. The stirrup member 15 has a series of vertically-alined openings 17 formed therein to adjustably receive the upper reduced extremity 18 of a stirrup 19, the said extremity embracing the stirrup member and held intact therewith by means of a bolt 20. The improved attachment is formed of suitable strap metal throughout, and the upper reduced extremity 18 of the stirrup 19, firmly bearing against the stirrup member 15, as shown by Fig. 3, will prevent loose movement of the said stirrup and always hold the latter in proper position without unnecessarily wearing the picking-lever 21, which is carried thereby.

As will be understood, each of the stirrups 19 is fitted over a picking-lever 21 and in the operation of the picker sticks inwardly. The

segmental members 12 of the attachments move over the curved surface or edge of the.

semicircular cam or disk 5 with freedom and lower the stirrup members 15 and stirrups 19, with the result which will be obvious to any one skilled in the art and for a purpose well known, and the necessary yielding movement of the attachment is permitted by the hinge between the members 12 and 15, it being observed that the said hinge projection is on the outer side, so as not to obstruct or interfere with the regular contact of the member 12 with the cam or disk 5 in each instance. The attachment can be readily applied or disconnected and the stirrup 19 adjusted as desired.

The use of the improved stirrup attachment will be economical to manufacturers running large loom plants in view of the durability of the same, and to suit various applications, as beforeindicated, slight variations will be made.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A stirrup attachment of the character set forth, comprisinga cam, asegmental member, a stirrup member hinged thereto, and a stirrup adj ustably mounted on the said stirrup member.

2. A stirrup attachment of the character set forth constructed of metal and comprising a cam, a segmental member adapted to be attached to a picker-stick and having a portion of a hinge structure at its lower terminal, a stirrup member having a part of a hinge structure at its upper terminal and fitted in that at the lower terminal of the se,,- mental member and also provided with a vertically-alined series of openings, and a stirrup having an upper reduced extremity adjustably embracing and connected to the said stirrup member.

3. A stirrup attachment of the character set forth comprising a cam, a metallic segmental member adapted to retain its shape, and a stirrup movably attached thereto and depending therefrom.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT L. DURHAM. Witnesses:

W. H. PENNINGTON, J. H. WATSON. 

